Church Commissioners

Churches: Rural Areas

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Church of England Report, Released for mission, growing the rural church, published in 2015, which identifies that 17.6 per cent of the English population live in rural areas and 40 per cent of churchgoers attend parishes in rural areas, and with reference to the Parish Finance Statistics 2020 which shows £471 million of parish giving for the whole of the Church of England in 2020, what proportion of that parish giving came from rural parishes.

Andrew Selous: A revised analysis based on ONS rural/urban land-use classifications and the latest (2019) mid-year population updates, gives a slightly different set of parishes classified as rural, totalling 24% of the English population. Analysis of church attendance has been complicated in recent years because of the effects of COVID and restrictions on in-person worship, but it is estimated that 37% of attendance is in these parishes. Analysis of the £471million giving reported in 2020 Parish Finance Statistics indicates that 44% came from these parishes in rural areas. Rural areas tend to be wealthier on average; of the population living in the most deprived 10% of parishes, 5% live in these rural areas, and 95% in urban areas.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan: Refugees

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people accepted under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy remain in Afghanistan as of 28 June 2022.

James Heappey: As of 29 June 2022, we are aware of approximately 650 ARAP eligible principals who last reported their location as Afghanistan to the Ministry of Defence. It is not always possible to know whether all eligible persons are still in the country as some may be out of contact or have moved independently to a safe country.Neighbouring countries are discouraging movement of Afghans without passports and visas. Whilst we have arrangements for moving people that are operationally sensitive, this can only be achieved at a rate that partners are content to support. The UK government continues to bring people out at the best pace possible.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Ms Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2022 to Question 19629 on Afghanistan: Refugees, if he will publish a list of the partners in the region referred to in that Answer; how many fully documented ARAP cases were awaiting processing in the latest period for which figures are available; on what date the oldest fully documented ARAP visa application case awaiting a visa was submitted; and how his Department determines whether an applicant has died before a visa is processed.

James Heappey: We continue to work alongside international partners to relocate eligible Afghans through third countries. Beyond the obvious and hugely appreciated co-operation with Pakistan, other governments in the region have asked that their support is not made public. We respect their wishes and are grateful for their support. As of 29 June 2022, we have approximately 200 ARAP principal applicants who have received their ARAP offer letters and whose relocation to the UK we are currently processing. Every ARAP application, including those that are ARAP eligible, is complex with a range of individual circumstances to consider, and we are unable to provide a specific number of those who are documented and those who are not. We continue to support those eligible in their relocation to the UK, as required on a case-by-case basis. The earliest case awaiting a visa relates to an ARAP visa application made on 19 October 2021. As confirmed in my answer to Question 19629, no cases have been closed because of the death of an applicant. ARAP caseworkers are in regular contact with eligible persons and will take appropriate steps should they be notified of a death.

Department of Health and Social Care

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) organisations and (b) individuals his Department has consulted as part of the development of the delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Gillian Keegan: We are currently unable to provide this information requested as it relates to the formulation of Government policy. However, to date we have engaged people with lived experience of those with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and carers, staff working in specialist ME/CFS services, relevant charities, other specialist organisations, academic experts, professional membership organisations, other relevant bodies and representatives from the devolved administrations and other Government departments. Further information will be provided in due course.

Tumour Treating Fields Therapy

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received from (a) NICE, (b) patient groups or (c) other bodies about making additional funds available for tumour-treating fields such as Optune.

James Morris: A search of the Department’s centralised correspondence database for 'tumour-treating fields' returns 16,051 cases. However, to identify specific cases relating to additional funding could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.On 30 March 2022, the Department responded to an e-petition on funding for OPTUNE brain cancer treatment for National Health Service patients, which is available at the following link:https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/610898